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Organic Eprints

OACC is a collaborator within Organic Eprints, an international open access archive for papers and projects related to research in organic food and farming.

Photo of the Month, by Dalhousie University
The announcement of Organic Science Cluster II took place at Dalhousie University's Agricultural Campus on August 12, 2014. From left to right: Dr. David Gray, Dean of Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture; Dr. Richard Florizone, President of Dalhousie University; Tim Livingstone, Organic Federation of Canada; Scott Armstrong, local Member of Parliament; Nicole Boudreau, Organic Federation of Canada; Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food; Dr. Andy Hammermeister, Director of Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada, Dalhousie University; Margaret Savard, Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada; and Joanna MacKenzie, Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada.

Coinciding with the launch of OSCII, we are also excited to launch a new version of the OACC website, www.dal.ca/oacc, now hosted by Dalhousie University. The information that you are used to finding on our website has been maintained and streamlined, with a new, fresh look and structure. We are continuing to develop our new home on the internet, and welcome any comments or feedback, which can be sent to joanna.mackenzie@dal.ca.

As we look forward to Organic Week next week, I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the organic community, and wish each of you continued success and a bountiful harvest.

Organic Standards

The Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) has released draft editions of the revised Organic Agriculture Standards, which can now be downloaded for public review. The first period of public review will be for a minimum of 60 days in accordance with the development of a National Standard of Canada and will be opened for comments until September 22, 2014.

Two versions of each draft are available, a copy showing the proposed changes since the last edition, and a copy not showing these proposed changes, to facilitate reading. No changes have been balloted for approval by the committee to date. In addition, copies of the minutes of the two meetings for the development of these standards are available and detail the rationale for the changes and items rejected.

Members of the committee, organisations, institutions and the public are encouraged to submit comments, with supporting rationale, for any recommended changes. Technical changes, translation issues and major editorial improvements are welcome, but minor editorial changes are not recommended. Only submissions sent via the Change Form with the appropriate supporting information will be accepted.

Student, Job and Apprentice Opportunities

Post-doctoral fellow opportunity at the Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre
Working within a multidisciplinary team, the post-doctoral fellow (PDF) will undertake research activities in the area of sustainable organic production systems for the Brown Soil zone. Under the supervision of, and in collaboration with, a team of research scientists and assisted by technical staff and/or students, the PDF will conduct field trials under organic methods. The objective of the main field trial is to determine if diversified crop rotations and reduced tillage under organic management can keep weed populations at low levels, soil fertility at adequate levels, and plants healthy for sustainable and profitable production of annual crops under the water-limited and variable environmental conditions of the Brown Soil Zone of western Canada. For more information, please contact Myriam Fernandez at myriam.fernandez@agr.gc.ca.

Please let us know about current opportunities you wish to announce by emailing oacc@dal.ca.